Apparatus for making stiffended wrappers



4 Sheets-Sheet l 1N V EN TOR M Aug. 18, 1953 w. s. CLOUD APPARATUS FOR MAKING STIFFENED wRAPPERs Filed April 5, 1951 W. S. CLOUD Aug. 1s, 1953 Aug. 18, 1953 w.'s. CLOUD APPARATUS FOR MAKING STIF'F'ENED vWRAPPERS 4 sheets-smeet s Filed April 5, 1951 W4 1,4 INVENTOR.-

regl A Aug. 18, 1953 w. s. CLOUD APPARATUS FOR MAKING STIF'FENED WRAPPERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledApIil 5, 1951 Illll'll Il.'

Patented Aug. 18, 1953 UNITEDr STATES PIELTEN'I"l OFFICE APPARATUS Felt MAKING STIFFENED WRAPPERS In a form of packaging which has bee'nused for many billions of candy bars, the finished wrappers comprise tubes of paper-like material cut from endless tubes and closed at both ends as by crimping and partially or completely seal-` ing. With a single candy bar, these wrappers provide a rigid package easily handled. When it is desired to provide two or more candy bars or pieces in one bag, the result has no longer had lthe desired rigidity unless some stiffening member is provided. Of course there have been many packages in which a stiffening member, such as a cardboard insert, was provided. These pack,-V fages, however, did not lend themselves to the advantageous method of manufacture used in vmak-v ing the Wrappers above described.

According to the present invention, Aan apparatus and method are provided for producing the bags by a method similar to the advantageous method previously used while at the same ltime inserting stifeners with a minimum of ladditional cost.

It should be recognized that cardboard inserts 'vention will be apparent from the description` :and from the drawings.

Designation of figuresv 'Figure 1 is a diagrammatic viewrepresenting the production of wrapper blanks in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end view showing the cross-fsee- 'tional folding of the paper forming the tube blank which represents the main body ofthe package of this invention.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but show- A'ing the side portions of the tube blanks spread Aapart and a stiiener inserted.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 lbut showing the assembly after it has been closed upon 4the stiffener, inverted and applied to a backing` sheet.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view representing the spreading open of the tube 2 stock, the tucking of a stiffener therein, the closing and inverting -of the stuied tube stock and the application of the backing sheet thereto.

Figure 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic View representing the slitting of the stiffener web-and the spreading apart of the strips split therefrom.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of theglueapplying vand tucking unit, being taken approximately on the line 'i--l of Figure 8.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary View looking downl Prior bag-set 'making Many details ofthe apparatus chosen for illustration havenot been fully illustrated, inasmuch asthese would be understood from the prior Cloud Patent No. 2,180,338. It may be briefly explained that according to this patent, a set 0f printed Split tube blanks IIJ, Which may also be called tube stock, are drawn in Vparallel yrelationship from rolls II and applied to a backing sheet I2 drawn from a roll I3 and to which glue or other adhesive has been applied by glue applier I4. An operator working by an aligning table .or board I6 manipulates the tube blanks .to

keep the printed portions in longitudinal regis?-` folded over and secured to complete thewrapping.

of the candy bars. Before applicationof the.

backing sheet I2, it may be .perforated along linesY which willfacilitate tearing the nishedbags from oneanother.

According tothis prior method, the tube stock I0 4was fed with its split side down so thatthe split side was ultimately glued to the backing sheet I2.

As explained :in Cloud Patent 2,180,338,

General Description down, the inserts 23 placed in the tube, and the application to the backing sheet I2, therefore, made without any inverting step. However, the form first described is at present preferred as it facilitates visual inspection of the entire process.

The cardboard forming the inserts is initially in the form of a web 26 drawn from a roll 21. It is slitted into strips 39 by slitters 28. The slitters preferably comprise upper and lower sets of spaced circular knives cooperating in shearing pairs. The strips are spread apart and then jointly cut into inserts 23 by severing means such as a rotating knife 29. The inserts could be fed from stacks of previously cut inserts, but the illustrated form of the invention is more simple and reliable. Glue is applied to each insert by a glue-applying roller 3| forming part of a shiftable gluing unit 32. The insert is ultimately tucked into the tube stock by a roller 33, against which the insert is pressed by table 14. As previously mentioned, the stiffened tube stock is then inverted by the twisting guides 24, applied to the glued side of the backing sheet |2, and severed and closed at one end to form the bag-sets.

When the cardboard web 26 is drawn from roll 21, it is likely to have a residual tendency to curl which would cause trouble after the strips are out into individual inserts. This is overcome by a decurling roll 36 about which the web is drawn by feed rolls 31 or 42. An adjustable brake or tensioning device 38 is provided on the shaft of roll 21 for adjusting the tension of the web 26 about decurling roll 36. It will be observed that with this arrangement of the brake the roller tension on the roll increases as the roll becomes smaller. This is desirable because the tendency of the web 26 to curl increases as the roll becomes smaller. It has been found that the two offset one another so that adjustment of the brake is rarely necessary.

Slz'ftz'ng and separating From the feed or guide rolls 31, the web 26 passes through slitters 28. As best seen in Fig. 6, the strips 39 thus formed are spread apart by spreaders 4|. Another pair of feed rolls 42 then feeds the strip past guides 43 to the rotating shearing knife 29 which in cooperation with fixed blade 44 shears the strips 39 to form the separated inserts 23. Just before each insert is severed from the web, its leading end is seized by feed rolls 46 and shortly thereafter it is seized by a second pair of feed rolls 41. The rolls 46 and 41 are driven at the same speed, which is a faster peripheral speed than the feed of feed rolls 31 and 42. This faster feed separates the severed inserts from the following strips so that the inserts are spaced apart the desired distance, allowing room between them for severing the tubular blanks and folding the ends. The rst of these feed rolls 46 grips the cardboard lightly so that they will slide easily on the cardboard while the speed is restrained by virtue of the fact that it is still part of the web 26. As soon as the severance of each piece is complete, its forward speed is increased by the rollers 46. Although the rolls 41 grip the inserts firmly, they will have been fully severed before they reach these rolls.

Glue-applying unit It is desirable that the inserts be glued to one side 11 of the tube stock forming the ultimate package, or to the backing paper, so that once the linsert has been properly positioned in the tube blank, it will not be shifted longitudinally from this` position (as by a careless operator working by aligning table I6), and thus be positioned where it will hinder or prevent the crimping of the end of a bag set. It is for this reason that glue is applied to each strip by the glue-applying rolls 3|. Glue is supplied to roll 3| by feed rolls 48 and 49, the feed roll 49 running in a pool of glue in glue pan 5| and in contact with roll 48 which runs in contact with the rolls 3|. The inserts are pressed against glue roll 3| by guide plates 52, which are spaced from the glue rolls 3i so as not to pick up glue therefrom when no insert is present.

For ease in feeding the leading end of the tube stock through the machine, it is desirable that the glue-applying unit 32 be shiftable as a unit, without changing the relative positions of rolls 3|, 48 and 49, to give access below it, particularly in the vicinity of tucking roll 33. To this end, the entire glue-applying unit is mounted on a shiftable carriage which may be shifted by turning hand wheel 6|. As seen best in Fig. 8, the hand wheel 6| turns a pair of pinions 62 which operate on racks 63 to prevent angular shifting of the glue-applying unit. It should be understood that accurate parallelism of shaft 64 carrying glue-applying rolls 3! is important so that each of these rolls will bear suitably on its associated insert 23.

As seen best in Fig. '1, the shaft 64 and the shafts 61 for feed rolls 48 and 49 are carried by side members 33 of a carriage frame. This carriage may be slidably mounted on suitable slides 59, which should be engaged with a smooth vrunning fit unless other means is provided for supporting the rear of the gluing unit.

It is desirable that the last feed rolls 41 be close enough to tucking roll 33 so that the inserts will be safely below the tucking roll 33 before being released by feed rolls 41. This does not provide much space for the insertion and removal of glue-applying roll 3|. At the same time, it is somewhat desirable that the glueapplying roll 3| apply a thin line of glue to a portion of the inserts which do not come in contact with tucking roll 33.

Both of these considerations are satised by providing a narrow glue roll 3! along the center of each insert 23 as seen in Fig. 8 and having tucking roll 33 divided as seen in Figs. 5 and 8 so as to engage each insert 23 along its edges and permit the gluing roll 3| to pass between the halves of tucking roll 33 as the gluing unit is traversed away from its active position for access to the parts below it.

The gluer may be driven by pinions 1| which separate from one another as the gluer is traversed away from' its active position.

The amount of glue applied can be regulated by thumb screws 12 which raise and'lower bearing blocks i3 to adjust the pressure orclearance between the various rolls of the gluer.l

It will be recognized that application of glue to the side il which is to be foldedv over against the insert 23 is the equivalentv of vapplying the glue to the insert. The illustrated'form of the invention is preferred, as it eliminates the neces# sity of applying glue only at predetermined portions of a continuous member and rather permits a continuous gluer application which is effective only when the inserts are present. If glue were applied continuouslyY to side "il, this would prevent proper opening of the -bag sets for insertion of candy bars and might interfere with proper functioning of cutter I1.

Tube spreader A structure for a tube spreader 22 which has been found satisfactory is -seen best in Fig. 5. This may comprise simply a plow-shaped bar supported over table it?, 'by 'a brace -i6.- As `the tube stock is initially fed past this plow, its split side portions 'Vi are raised up and as the tube stock continues to be drawn through the machine it is plowed open by the-spreader or plow 22. 1f, as is preferred, the tube stockis of the accordion type, provided with pleats 73, these accordion pleats pass under the plow 22 and the inserts are applied on top of the accordion pleats. the plow, guide plates may be provided to ease them back to the closed position while holding down the accordion pleat 58. Guide plates le may also be provided to direct the tube stock past the plow. A plate for holding down pleats 'i8 as they approach plow 22'm'ay also be provided. Also a yieldably mounted plate below the plow may hold the tube stock snugly up against it.

Twisting guides While inversion of the tube stock has proved possible without them, it is preferredto provide twisting guides to ensure uniform action of the tube stock. The twisting guides 2i may, as seen best in Fig. 5, comprise simple pairs of fingers of successive angularities to gradually invert each tube stock. Fig. 5 somewhat foreshortens the apparatus, relatively more length of tube preferably being allowed between successive pairs l,

of twisting guides 2d. The first of these twisting guides serves the additional function of closing the tub-e stock as it is drawn through this twisting guide. llt is possible that the twisting guides could be dispensed with but they have been found to be one way of substantiallyA avoiding Where side portions 'll leave These tensioning devicesv required to keep them inlongitudinal registration.

Length variation in the apparatus built under Cloud Patent 2,180,338, the ratio of drive between feed rolls iand rotary cutter il is'adjust'able. Occasional adjustment is necessary becausethe' length of the tube stock varies somewhat with humidity and temperature. A moresubstantia'l `change in' tween printed cr'labeled portions of the ftubes by an occasional registration adjustment.

According to the present invention, the rotary cutter 29 is driven in 1:1 ratio with the cutterr il and the various .feed rolls 3l, 42, l'and 4l! are driven in constant ratio relationship to-the' drive of the feed rolls 83. As a result, it is rarely neeessary to make any special adjustment'.

with respect to the insertionl of the stiffening members. Of course the rotary knife 29 'is yangularly adjustable on its shaft by means of a set screw or otherwise so that initially or for each' length of package it may be adjusted to cut the strips in such timed relationship that each strip..

will be centered in its package.

The ratio of the various feed rolls is not nec-1v The feed rolls :it and A1 will have approximately the same peripheral speed as the. feed rolls 83. The speed of the feedrrolls 31 anelli e2 is somewhat slower, the discrepancy control-A A, variable speed drive may be provided betweenV the drive for feed rolls 3l and 42 and that, for# essarily 1: 1.

ling the length of gap between the inserts.

the other feed rolls.

Cardboard inserts having a U-shaped cross section have been used in candy wrappers,l andi it is contemplated that inserts 23 may be se shaped although certain minor and obvious modifications would have to be made in the illustrated apparatus.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for making a stiffen'ed wrapper including means for feeding a slitted tubular wrapper blank, means for plowing openithesides of the wrapper, means for feeding a'continuous length of stifiener strip, means for cutting said strip into sections, applying glue to each section, and inserting each section in the opened tubular blank, means for closing the tubular blank-about the insert and twisting it as it advances to turn it over, means for applying a backingV strip tothe split side ofthe tubular blank and means for cutting the tubular blank driven in timed relation to the means for cutting the stifener strip tocut the tubular blank between lthe inserts to .form stiened package blanks.

2. Apparatus for forming afset of side-by-side stiffened package blanks including means for feeding a web of stiffener stockfrom a` roll, meansk for flexing the web to reduce its tendency to curl, means for slitting the web into av plurality of strips, means for spreading apart the strips, shearing means for shearing the side-by-side strips to form a set of inserts, means for advanc ing web, means'forrapplying adhesive to one facef thereof, mean's'forap'plying said face to the vtubel blanks along both sides of the split to complete 7 the tubular structure and means for severing the parallel completed tube blanks driven in timed relation with the rst-named severing means to sever the tube blanks between the inserts, thus forming stiifened package blanks.

3. Apparatus for forming a set of side-by-side stiened package blanks including means for feeding a web of stifiener stock from a roll, means for flexing the web to reduce its tendency to curl, means for slitting the web into a plurality of strips, means for spreading apart the strips, shearing means for shearing the side-by-side strips to form a set of inserts, means for advancing the inserts faster than the feed of the web to separate the inserts, means for feeding split tube blanks at a speed faster than the feed of the web, means for spreading apart the sides of each tube blank adjacent the split, means for applying glue to the stiffener inserts and stuffing them in the opened tube blanks, means for closing the tube 4blanks and twisting the tube blanks to insert them as they advance, means for feeding a backing web, means for applying and securing the backing sheet to the tube blanks along both sides of the split to complete the tubular structure and f-,

means for severing the parallel completed tube blanks driven in timed relation with the firstnamed severing means to sever the tube blanks between the inserts, thus forming stiffened package blanks 4. Apparatus for forming a set of side-by-side stiifened package blanks including means for feeding a web of stiffener, means for slitting the web into a plurality of strips, means for spreading apart the strips, shearing means for shearing the side-by-side strips to form a set of inserts, means for advancing the inserts faster than the feed of the web to separate the inserts, means for feeding split tube blanks at a speed faster than the feed of the web, means for spreading apart the sides of each tube blank adjacent the split, means for applying glue to the stifener inserts and stuing them in the opened tube blanks, means for closing the tube blanks and twisting the tube blanks to invert them as they advance, means for feeding a backing web, means for applying and securing the backing sheet to the tube blanks along both sides of the split to complete the tubular structure and means for severing the parallel completed tube blanks driven in timed relation with the first-named severing means to sever the tube blanks between the inserts, thus forming stiffened package blanks.

5. Apparatus for forming a set of side-by-side stiffened package blanks including means for feeding a web of stiffener, means for slitting the web into a plurality of strips, means for spreading apart the strips, shearing means for shearing the side-by-side strips to form a set of inserts, means for advancing the inserts faster than the feed of the web to separate the inserts, means for feeding split tube blanks at a speed faster than the feed of the web, means for spreading apart the sides of each tube blank adjacent the split, means for applying glue to the stiifener inserts and stuffing them in the opened tube blanks, means for closing the tube blanks, means for feeding a backing web, means for applying and securing the backing sheet to the tube blanks along both sides of the split to complete the tubular structure and means for severing the parallel completed tube blanks driven in timed relation with the first-named severing means to sever the tube blanks between the inserts, thus forming stiffened package blanks.

6. Apparatus for forming a set of side-by-side stiifened package blanks including means for feeding a web of stifener, means for slitting the web into a plurality of strips, means for spreading apart the strips, shearing means for shearing the side-by-side strips to form a set of inserts, means for advancing the inserts faster than the feed of the web to separate the inserts, means for feeding split tube blanks at a speed faster than the feed of the web, means for spreading apart the sides of each tube blank adjacent the split, means for applying glue to the stiifener inserts and stuffing them in the opened tube blanks, means for closing the tube blanks and twisting the tube blanks to invert them as they advance, means for feeding a backing web, means for applying and securing the backing sheet to the tube blanks along both sides of the split to complete the tubular structure and means for severing the parallel completed tube blanks between the inserts, thus forming stiffened package blanks.

7. Apparatus for forming a set of side-by-side stiifened package blanks including means for feeding a web of stiffener, means for slitting the web into a plurality of strips, means for spreading apart the strips, shearing means for shearing the side-by-side strips to form a set of inserts, means for advancing the inserts faster than the feed of the web to separate the inserts, means fer feeding split tube blanks at a speed faster than the feed of the web, means for spreading apart the sides of each tube blank adjacent the split, means for applying glue to the stiifener inserts and stuiing them in the opened tube blanks, means for closing the tube blanks, means for feeding a backing web, means for apiplying and securing the backing sheet to the tube blanks along both sides cf the split to complete the tubular structure and means for severing the parallel completed tube blanks between the inserts, thus forming stiffened package blanks.

8. Apparatus for forming a set of side-by-side stiffened package blanks including means for feeding a web of stiffener, means for slitting the web into a plurality of strips, meam for spreading apart the strips, shearing means for shearing the side-by-side strips to form a set of inserts, means for advancing the inserts faster than the feed of the web to separate the inserts, means for feeding split tube blanks at a speed faster than the feed of the web, means for spreading apart the sides of each tube blank adjacent the split, means for applying glue to the stiffener inserts and stuffing' them in the opened tube blanks, means for closing the tube blanks, means for feeding a backing web, means for applying and securing the backing sheet to the tube blanks along both sides of the split to complete the tubular structure and means for severing the parallel completed tube blanks driven in timed relation with the first-named severing means to sever the tube blanks between the inserts, thus forming stiffened package blanks, and means for varying the speed ratio of the feed means as to the severing means.

9. Apparatus for forming a stiffened package blank, including means for feeding a strip of stiffener stock, shearing means for shearing the strip to form inserts, means for driving the inserts faster than the feed of the strip to separate the inserts, means for feeding a split tube blank at a speed faster than the feed of the strip, means for spreading apart the sides of each tube blank adjacent the split, means for applying glue to the stiener inserts and stufling them in the opened 9 tube blank, means for closing the tube blank and twisting the tube blank to invert it as it advances, means for feeding a backing web, means for applying and securing the web to the tube blank along opposite sides of the split to complete the tubular structure and means for severing the completed tube blank driven in timed relation with the first-named severing means to sever the tube blanks between the inserts, thus forming stiffened package blanks.

10. Apparatus for forming a stiffened package blank, including means for feeding a strip of stiffener stock, shearing means for shearing the strip to form inserts, means for driving the inserts faster than the feed of the strip to separate the inserts, means for feeding a split tube blank at a speed faster than the feed of the strip, means for spreading apart the sides of each tube blank adjacent the split, means for stuffing the inserts in the opened tube blank, means for closing the tube blank and twisting the tube blank to invert it as it advances, means for feeding a backing web, means for applying and securing the web to the tube blank along opposite sides of the split to complete the tubular structure and means for severing the completed tube blank driven in timed relation with the first-named severing means to sever the tube blanks between the inserts, thus forming stiffened package blanks.

11. Apparatus for forming a stiifened package blank, including means for feeding a strip of stiffener stock, shearing means for shearing the strip to form inserts, means for driving the inserts faster than the feed of the strip to separate the inserts, means for feeding a split tube blank at a speed faster than the feed of the strip, means for spreading apart the sides of each tube blank adjacent the split, means for stuffing the inserts in the opened tube blank, means for closing the tube blank, means for feeding a backing web, means for applying and securing the web to the tube blank along opposite sides of the split to complete the tubular structure and means for severing the completed tube blank driven in timed relation with the first-named severing means to sever the tube blanks between the inserts, thus forming stiffened package blanks.

12. Apparatus for forming a'stiffened package blank, including means for feeding a strip of stiifener stock, shearing means for shearing the strip to form inserts, means for driving the inserts faster than the feed of the strip to separate the inserts, means for feeding a split tube blank at a speed faster than the feed of the strip, means for spreading apart the sides of each tube blank adjacent the split, means for stuffing the inserts in the opened tube blank, means for closing the tube blank, means for feeding a backing web, means for applying and securing the web to the tube blank along opposite sides of the split to complete the tubular structure and means for severing the completed tube blank driven in timed relation with the first-named severing means to sever the tube blanks between the in- 10 serts, thus forming stiffened package blanks, and means for varying the speed ratio of the feeding means to the severing means.

13. Apparatus for making a stiffened wrapper including means for feeding a slitted tubular wrapper blank, means for plowing open the sides of the Wrapper, means for feeding a continuous length of stiifener strip, means for cutting said strip into sections, applying glue to each section, and inserting each section in the opened tubular blank, means for closing the tubular blank about the insert, means for applying a backing strip to the split side of the tubular blank and .1

means for cutting the tubular blank driven in timed relation to the means for cutting the stiffener strip to cut the tubular blank between the inserts to form stiffened package blanks.

14. Apparatus for forming a set of side-by-side stiffened package blanks including means for feeding a web of stiffener, means for slitting the web into a plurality of strips, means for spreading apart the strips, shearing means for shearing the side-by-side strips to form a set of inserts, means for advancing the inserts faster than the feed of the web to separate the inserts, means for feeding split tube blanks at a speed faster than the feed of the web, means for spreading apart the sides of each tube blank adjacent the split, means for applying glue to the stiffener inserts and stuffing them in the opened tube blanks, means for closing the tube blanks, means for feeding a backing web, means for applying and securing the backing sheet to the tube blanks along both sides of the split to complete the tubular structure and means for severing the parallel completed tube blanks between the inserts, thus forming stiffened package blanks.

15. Apparatus for forming a stiffened package blank, including means for feeding a strip of stiifener stock, shearing means for shearing the strip to form inserts, means for driving the inserts faster than the feed of the strip to separate the inserts, means for feeding a split tube blank at a speed faster than the feed of the strip, means for spreading apart the sides of each tube blank adjacent the split, means for stuffing the inserts in the opened tube blank, means for closing the tube blank, means for feeding a backing web, means for applying and securing the web to the tube blank along opposite sides of the split to complete the tubular structure and means for severing the completed tube blank driven in timed relation with the first-named severing means to sever the tube blanks between the inserts, thus forming stiffened package blanks.

WILLIAM S. CLOUD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,121,817 Ferres Dec. 22, 1914 2,063,392 McCain Dec. 8, 1936 

